Britain's Little Mix invading the States

By KAYLA ZIADIE and West Broward High

Feb 27, 2014 | 11:12 PM

British girl group Little Mix were formed on The X Factor UK in 2011, ultimately dominating the season that year. Now with two albums out, DNA and Salute, they are one of the better-known pop groups today.

They first visited Miami in June 2013, where they performed at Dolphin Mall for their "Mixers Magnets" event. Now they are opening for Demi Lovato on her Neon Lights tour, and they came back to South Florida to perform at the BB&T Center Feb. 25.

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Teenlink spoke with Leigh Anne Pinnock from Little Mix before the show to discuss their new album and upcoming tour plans.

How are you enjoying America so far this time around?

Well, it's one of the greatest places in the world and we [Little Mix] absolutely love it. The fans over here are amazing, we're just so lucky.

That's great! Now, let's talk about the album. In your opinion, how does Salute's sound differ from DNA's?

Salute is much more R&B, and definitely more mature. We've gone to town even more with the harmonies than the other album. We've even written even more as well, so I think that this album is where we have definitely found our sound. We're so proud of it, and with every single song we wanted to make sure that it could be a potential single. We just absolutely love it.

The album is incredible, honestly.

Thank you so much, it means the world to hear that.

You mentioned this album having more songs written by you girls, is there a specific songwriting process you guys have? Does everyone gather around in a circle or something along those lines, what goes on?

The thing is we love to write together, there was one session where we all just put our heads together and I really loved that one. It's just being together is totally better than just one, and we have so many ideas that it all comes together and I love it.

How excited are you girls to perform your new songs as opening acts for Demi Lovato's Neon Lights tour?

Oh my gosh, we are so excited. [laughs] This is our first time touring in America and it's just insane, we'll be performing to all our fans in arenas with more people, so it'll be really good.

Are there any surprises that fans can expect?

Little Mix obviously puts a show on stage, so. [laughs] There's going to be a lot of dancing, lots of fun and partying on stage, we just want to make it an epic, epic show.

Speaking of performing, you girls did a duet with Missy Elliot on your last album, and you guys have worked with multiple different artists. How was that experience and how did it come to happen?

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Missy Elliot is such an inspiration, she's wicked, she's so cool. We were all like, "We have to work with Missy Elliot we have to." We only thought it'd be a dream, we never thought it'd ever happen. Our team contacted her and her people, and they loved the song "How Ya Doin'." I remember when we first heard her in it, we literally started screaming. We all cried, [laughs] it was just wicked. She can just take on any verse, it was so good. For the music video, she recorded her bit in LA because she's really busy. We tweeted her back and forth and she tweeted us and our fans, that was great. She wanted to meet up in America, but we weren't here at the same time so that was a bit annoying that we couldn't actually meet up. Hopefully one day we will meet her, she seems lovely.

Oh my God. The first time we saw it was when it was #2, so, we didn't expect it at all. Oh my gosh, it was so great to see.

You girls also performed that day on Good Morning America. How were the nerves? Any pre-show rituals you guys have to relax you guys?

Yeah, we were just so excited if anything, but we were a bit nervous. We had all our fans around us so that was really nice. We do have a ritual with the dancers, as a matter of fact we do a little chant thing, and we pray that nothing will go wrong. [laughs]

Nothing but good things will come your way. So, you spend a lot of time traveling and touring around the world, how is being away from your families for so long?

LAP: Our families are so supportive, we have amazing people surrounding us. I really want to hug them sometimes when we're away, but like my mum and dad are going to come see us on tour. My sisters are coming, and all our boyfriends are too. It's going to be really lovely.

Is there a little more pressure when you see your family in the audience?

Definitely seeing my older sister. She was my inspiration growing up, she would pressure me and would always critique me. Whenever she's in the audience, it's just that bit more intimidating. She's so proud though, and I don't think I would be who I am if it wasn't for her helping me. I wouldn't be here now without her. She's really helped, me I don't think I would have auditioned for The X Factor if it wasn't for her.

You're going to be heading back to Miami on Feb. 25, what do you miss about it? The last time you guys came was in June of last year.

Oh wow, that was such an amazing day. I think I remember it raining, right?

Teenlink: It was pouring really hard that day, yeah.

Yeah it was! All the fans got soaked but they were still so amazing we were so excited to see them. It went really well and we were all so excited. There were over two thousand people I believe, it was just wicked. I know they were drenched, bless them. [laughs] Miami's amazing so I hope we get to see it. We have a few days where we can go out and just have fun and do things, so yeah, it's going to be really good. Miami is going to be so great.